Chef Knife, 8 Inch Damascus Steel Knife

Almost supernaturally sharp! Note: If you are at all clumsy, DO NOT buy these knives. These will cut you if you look at them wrong. [Very slight exaggeration.] I am a knife collector (mostly high-end pocket knives) so I'm not easily impressed, but I do like a deal. Simply put: I've never used a better kitchen knife for the money. Period. These things make my Wustofs feel like dollar store knives. The factory edge is literally 'hair-whitling' sharp. Not 'shaving sharp.' That's comparatively easy to achieve. Look up the difference. You will be amazed. With the santoku (Asian blade) chef's knife, you can actually cut a 0.5mm thin slice off of a tomato under only the weight of the knife itself. Just pull back. As to the quality. They seem incredibly solid and well-made. The blade steel is a San Mai 'Damascus' construction, essentially sandwiching an extremely hard cutting edge steel (maybe 62 Rockwell or higher) between two layers of slightly softer multi-alloy swirled (folded) Damascus steel. This is ideal as it allows the cutting edge to be crazy sharp and to stay that way for longer between sharpenings, while the cladding steel is able to take more of a beating without chipping or being damaged. Plus, they just look damned good!! Subtle, but good. The weight is great, if a little on the heavy side. The handle shape is comfortable and confidence-inspiring. The balance is good. Not perfect, but very good. Maybe the tiniest bit tang-heavy. The one BIG downside, if you're not a really festidious user, is that they are not going to be stainless. Many really good steels aren't. This means that you absolutely MUST clean and dry them immediately after use. Not after dinner, letting them sit covered in tomato juice for an hour. I mean right after you make the last cut. For me, it's worth it. I'll update this review in a few months when I know more about their durability and edge retention.

These knives were an anniversary gift for our steel anniversary, and they could not have been more perfect. The SHAN ZU Damascus knife set is absolutely beautiful—the craftsmanship and Damascus pattern really stand out and feel special. My husband has been using them regularly and has genuinely loved them. They are extremely sharp, well-balanced, and feel professional in hand. Cutting and prep are effortless, and you can tell right away that these are high-quality knives made with care. This set made a meaningful and practical gift that we’ll use for years to come. If you’re looking for a sharp, elegant knife set—especially for a special occasion—I highly recommend these.

I ordered Shan Zu knives about 2 weeks ago and wasn't satisfied with the packaging or condition of the knives. Apparently, I may have received a returned order. I tried again after I sent them back. The order that arrived was perfect and in original wrapping and the box had the red label wrapped around the box. These were new knives. Shan Zu is directly competing with the best kitchen knives such as Wustoff, Mac, Myabi, and Shun. The box that they came in is high quality. The knives were perfect, sharp, and have a nice design on the blade. So far, I’m very impressed with the quality of this set. They are a bit heavier than the knives I own with the 8” chef knife weighing 279g and my Mac chef knife weighing 195g. The blade shapes are similar but the Shan Zu belly is a bit flatter and wider. A flatter knife will work better for chopping onions and celery. I appreciate the wider belly for scooping chopped vegetables into a pot. The manufacturer says the core has a hardness of around 60-61 HRC so I will avoid bones and hard surfaces. I already own Mac, Misen, Myabi knives so I’ll be comparing the Shan Zu against these. As I’ve just received them, I’ve only tested basic slicing tasks and cannot attest to durability or ease of sharpening but I’ll update the review after I’ve used them for a while.

These knives are heavy and beautiful. Incredibly sharp and flawless. I bought a top German brand chef knife that starts with a Z and it looked used. It had scratches on the blade and the handle. I ordered a second German knife this time directly from the Z in Germany and looked even worse. These are like art and they work flawlessly for a home cook like myself and as I'm told for chefs alike.

These are great knives at a excellent price. I was looking for a Shun knock-off (thin Japanese blade made of very hard and very strong steel). The description of these say "Japanese" all over the place. They may use a Japanese steel but these are thick (and heavy) knives like the famous Wusthoff brand. If you are looking for Shun-style blades, the Shan Zu Pro series are not that.

Carefully packaged with lots of bubble wrap and cardboard. Each knife was packed individually in a cardboard sleeve and bubble wrap with little plastic tips to protect the tips of the knives. Absolutely beautiful and makes an elegant statement on my kitchen counter. The wood block is gorgeous with fine, tight grain wood and thoughtfully recessed routing around each knife slot. This way, the block top is kept pristine and any nicks made inserting knives in the block top won’t show. I have never seen this thoughtful feature on any other knife set of any price. Also love the engraved logo on front. Nothing glued on to loosen and fall off. The knives themselves are beautiful works of art which are super sharp, well made, full tang, with good weight and comfortable grip. Cutting is a breeze! I like that this set has all the basic knives I need without extraneous knives I’d never use. Only downside is that the set is tall under my kitchen counters and I’ll have to slide the block forward to remove a knife. Slightly inconvenient, however, that is hardly a deal breaker. Looking forward to using this set for years to come!

Have had them for months and they are excellent and remain sharp!

Extremely nice quality and sharp. The knives have good weight and balance to them. Well worth the money